Shaft for golf clubs and the like



June 15 1926.

A. E. LARD y `SHKFT FOR GOLF CLB'SIAND THE L IKE Filed May 10,v 1921 2 Sheets-sheet 1 gnam/Hot:

atto z ne W June 15 ,1926. 1l .1,589,297

A. E. LARD NvsHF'r F011 lGOLF CLUBS/1` AND THE LIKE Y Fned May 1o, 1921 I '2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented June 15, 1926.

`Urn-'ran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN E. LAND, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT vor' coronare.

SHVIAIET FOR GOLFl CLUBS AND THE LIKE.

Application led Hay 10, 1921. Serial No. 468,260.

10 disclosed in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a shaft made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 a like view of a modified form; Fig. 3 a view illustrative of a handle or shaft extension attached to a bamboo shaft; Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of a length of bamboo showing one manner of cutting the same to produce the desired taper in the ultimate shaft; Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of a shaft wherein the blank shown in Fig. 4 is employed; v

Fig. 6 a cross sectional view (enlarged) on the line VI-VI of Fig. 2 5 y Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified construction of the reinforcing sleeve; l"

Fig. 8 an'end view looking at the right hand end of Fig. 4;v

Fig. '9 a like view illustratin a bamboo l length having six V outs exten ing lengthwise thereof;

Fig. 10 an elevation showin a filler for the grooves or depressions whic are present ,85 in the bamboo length;

Fig. 11 a sectional view showing the manner of forming and preparing the lower or smaller end of the shaft for 'insertion in the wooden head;

Fig. 12 a similar view showingsuch head inserted; v

Fig. v13 a like view illustrating the manner of securing the shaft in an iron;

Fig. 14 a sectional elevation of a shaft or l5 handle such as would be suitable for a hammer; ,-Fig. 15 an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 16 a side elevation of a portion of a shaft showing another modification. W Hickory shafts for drivers and brassies are about 42 inches long and are approximately three-fourths of an inch in diameter at the upper end and taper to about one- 2 half inch at the lower end. It is this taper of one-quarter of any inch in 42 inches that properly distributes the weight and gives the Shaft' its correct balance7 and at the same-time makes it more flexible (whippy) towards the lower end. There is very little taper in a 42 inch length of bamboo threequarters of an inch in diameter. The .weight is therefore not properly distributed and it is not sufficiently -iexible towards the lower end to make an effective shaft. A smaller size, say five-eighthsof an inch at the u per end has more taper vbut is lackingin sti `ness towards the middle and upper` end'.

These defects are inherent in the growth of bamboo and are fatal to .an ideal and effective golf shaft. 'I overcome these :inherent defects in two ways: First, I start with the smaller bamboo 1, Fig. 1, say five-eighths of an inch, which is, as before stated, too flexible towards the upper part. Iv stien this upper part by turning same down slightly and sliding over this turned surface a sleeve or stifening member 3, Fig. 1, com- 4 posed preferably of bamboof about three quarters of an inch in diameter, this member being bored out to register with the turned bamboo and cemented thereto.

of hickory or other material will be inserted in the lower end to strengthen the same. This member will be of any desired` length and will be turned to fit the hole in the bam boo and will be cemented thereto. v

The sleeve or stifi'ening member 3 tapers exteriorly andv Second: Istart with the larger bamboo,

say three-quarters of an inch, which is too stiff towards the lower part, and I `render this more flexible by reducing theA diameter `the amount of` whip needed. The

rmed ta ering tongues orA mem-f that 'they do. not extend the full length ,y

greatly facilitates and simplifies the assembling and cementing of the tapering tongues, in addition to the strength imparted by the wall at the upper end being intact or solid. Three of the V-slots 15 are disclosed in Fig. 8, and the tongues or sections 16 are drawn together and cemented, as in Fig. 5. They are further secured and supported by suitable windings 17 of any suitable length and in any locality. A greater number of segmental tongues or members may be roduced, and in Fig. 9 -six of such mem ers are shown in end elevation.

In Fig. 3 the handle 11 having a reduced end 12 is shown as positioned and secured in the upperend of a bamboo shaft 13. Rivets 14 pass through the parts and secure same in addition to the cement.

In both the sleeve7 (Fig. 1) and tapered tongue construction (Fig. 5) I may reinforce or strengthen same by machiningthe internal walls by any suitable means, such as boring, reammg, broaching, driftlng or filing with files formed for the purpose, and inserting a reinforcing member 18 formed to register with the internal machined walls of the bamboo. I then cement the two together with a Hexible waterproof cement. Bamboo of the smaller diameter, say onehalf inch, tends to fiatness first on one side and then on the other in the sections between the nodes or joints and the inside is of corresponding shape. Inorder to machine the internal shape special forming tools or tiles are required and the internal -or reinforcin member or members may be shaped accor ingly. This reinforcing member 18 may be of any desired length or plurality of lengths and of any desired material such as cedar, cane, hickory, etc., and may be solid or bored out as indicated at the left hand end of Fig. 5, or I may use bamboo formed to fit'. I may also use very thin heat treated steelvtubing, butted or slotted to enable it to twist/.with thetorn sional action of the shaft when the ball is struck. v Such a construction Vis shown in Fig. 16 wherein the metal reinforce is desig nated by 30 and about which there is secured and cemented a wrapping such as aleather strip 31. Cement is applied tothe wrapping prior to its insertion into the bambooand as a consequence the parts are all secured together. The knuckles or nodes are turned down or otherwise reduced, as at 6, and the shaft may be whipped at such point if desired, and the longitudinally extending depressions or fiat surfaces in the sides of the bamboo may be filled in any suitable manner. Thus* in Fig. 1() such surface. denoted by 6&is filled in with a mixture of sawdust or wood Hour and cement, as denoted at` 7, or a stripe ofv felt may be cemented in place, as indicated by 8, at the right. The shaft may be wound with tape, as at` 9, to

point where the whip is desired to be locatedA can be governed and secured. Suitable grip material 29 for the above shafts may be attached in the usual way as in Fig. 1.

To secure any of the above described shafts in the heads the methods depicted in Fig. 11 to 13 may be employed.

In Fig. 11 the bamboo is exteriorly tapered and a strip of leather 19 covered with cement is wrapped about the same. The end is then driven into thesocket of the wooden head 20, the leather or other material, together with the glue, producing a strong union between the parts.

To secure an iron head to the shaft the construction in Fig. 13 may be employed. As in the last construction the bamboo is externally tapered and a hollow sleeve 21 of.

Athe case may be, Virmly holdsthe head in place.

As above indicated the bamboo handle will be found applicable'to implements other than golf clubs. 1 Thus in F lgs. 14 and 15 there 1s shown a handle suitable for a hammer comprising the bamboo member 25 having a member '26 cemented therein, the bamboo element being surrounded by a sleeve 27 cemented or pinned thereto. The opposite sides of the sleeve may be flattened to make Y f it conform more nearly to the hole in the head A wedge 28 may' be driven into the end of the plug to secure the handle in place, Fig. 15.

It is conceivable that under the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the Vs may ex- .i

tend the entire length of the bamboo member, or that Athe upper portion thereof may split lengthwise from the upperend ofthe V slots where the latter stop short of the upper or outer end.v

It is ofcourse impossible to externally tapera piece of bamboo without removing that portion of the body which isywaterproofed the strongest, but by following the methods above outlined-such strength is retained. Where the, bamboo length is bored through the dri-ll may cut through the walls of the ats or depressions but Asuch weakenv ing is taken care of by the internal reinforcing member above described. Y

It is also found that the shaft is less liable to fracture if the shaft is secured in the bamboo appear on the top and bottom.

faces of the shaft. l

What is claimed is,-

1. A shaft or handle for golf clubs and the like comprising a body formed from bam-l boo having longitudinally tapering sections removed from the lower portion thereof so as to produce a plurality of tongues in the lower section of the shaft, combined with means for holding the tongues in close relation.

2. A shaft or handle for golf clubs and the like comprising a body formed from bamboo having V-shaped sections removed from the lower portion thereof so as to produce, a plurality of tongues tapering toward their lower ends; and a core to which said tongues are secured.

3. A shaft vor handle for golf clubs and the like comprising a body formed from' bamboo, the lower end whereof is cut to produce a plurality Aof tongues tapering toward their lower ends; a core'to which said tongues are secured; and means for weighting and stiffening the upper end of the shaft.

4. A shaft for golf clubs and the like formed from a piece of bamboo of the required length; a. filler cemented in the eXterior depression natural to the bamboo; and a wrapping for the shaft thus produced.

5. In combination with a bamboo shaft having its lower end externally tapered; a tapered sleeve mounted thereon; and a head having an internally tapered socket to receive the sleeve and the shaft end,

6. In combination with a bamboo shaft having its lower end externally tapered; a

sleeve mounted thereon, said sleeve being eX- I to receive the lower end of the sleeve.l

7. A shaft for golf clubs and the like` formed from a piece of bamboo of the required length, said length being strength'- ened by an internally positioned metal tube, said tube being split longitudinally.

8. A shaft for golf clubs and the like formed from a piece of bamboo of the required length, |said length lbeing strengthcned by an internally positioned metal tube, said tubebeing split longitudinally and pro# vided with a wrapping cemented to the tube and the inner wall of the bamboo.

9. A shaft for golf clubs and the like formed from a? piece of bamboo of the required length, said length being strengthened b v an internallyv positioned metal tube,

` said tube being split longitudinally and rof` so vided with a leather wrappino` cemente to the tube and the inner wall of the ba/mboo.

.10. In a golf club, the combination of a shaft formed from a growth of bambao; a head secured to the lower end thereof; and means for stii'ening the upper part of the shaft throughout a material portion thereof.

11. A golf club comprising a head having a tapering shaft socket, a tubular shaft haw ing one end located concentrically within but of less diameter than the socket and anV adapter surrounding said shaft and tapering from an intermediate point toward each end, one tapering end being seated within the socket and the other tapering end extending upwardly from the socket and closely embending stress in a single plane is prevented. 12. A golf club comprising a tubular shaft, a head having an inwardly tapering :shaft socket and a non-metallic adapter seated in said socket around the end of the shaft and graduallyy tapering above and away from the socket to distribute the strains due to flexure or torsion through a i considerable llength of the shaft.

' ing adapted to seat in the socket of the head and the other to closely embrace and extend along, the shaft above the socket whereby flexurestrains will be cushioned and distributed in the shaft.

14.An adapter for connecting shafts to the heads of golf clubs formed of non-metallic, non-resonant material with an axial bore for the reception of the end of the shaft and `an external contour cylindrical in cross sec.- tion and tapering from an intermediate point toward each end, one of said ends being adapted to seatin the socket of the head and the other to closely embrace and extend along the shaft above the socketwhereby -bracing the shaft whereby localization of flexure strains willbe cushioned and distributed in the shaft. j

- A golf club comprising a tubular shaft formed of bamboo with an internal hollow metallic reinforcing element: a head having an. inwardly tapering shaft socket; and a non-metallic adapter seated in said. socket around the end of the shaft andgradually tapering above and away from the socket to distribute the strains due to fiexure or torsion through a considerable length of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signedv my namek to this specification.

ALLAN n.' LAnD.' 

